Improvement in locks



UNITED STATES PATENT Canton.

A. ojMrnn's', on NAsHUA, newY HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN Looks.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 59.048. dated October 23, 1866.

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known thatI, A. O. MILES, of Nashua, Hillsborough county, State of New Hampshire, have invented a new and Improved Lock; and [do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of a loek constructed according to my invention, the side of the lockcase nearest the eye being' removed, as indicated by the line x, Fig. 2, in order to show the interior; Fig. 2, a vertical section of the same, taken in the line x wf, Fig. l; Figs. 3 and 4, views of the-working parts of the same in different positions; Fig. 5, a detached longitudinal section of the key pertaining to the same, taken in the line y y, Fig. 6; Fig. 6, a transverse sectionv of Fig. 5, taken in the line z Z, Fig. 5.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a lock for which Letters Patent were granted to R. S. Eddy and A. O. Miles, bearing date December 17, 1861. In this patented lock a series of adjustable tumblers are employed tted in sliding frames, and arranged in such a manner that the position of the tumblers mayr be varied relatively with each other and different changes effected, so that different keys will be required to open the lock, or a different adjustment of the bits of the same key.

The present improvements consist in arran ging the tumbler-frames in such a manner that they may be moved under the action of the key in two different directions, up and down, for the purpose of varying the position of the tumblers relatively with each other, thereby obtaining a positive movement which is reliable, and renders the lock far more durable and less liable to get out of repair than hitherto, and admits of the changes being effected through the medium of the key alone.

The invention also consists in an improved means for retaining the bits ot' the key in the latter, so that they cannot become detached and lost even when not secured in position to operate upon the lock.

j A represents the case of the lock; B, the bolt thereof, and C a series of sliding frames placed side by side, or one over the other, and allowed to move freely. These frames C have eachja tumbler, DI," iitted in them, not permanently, but so that the frames C when the tumblers are held or prevented from moving may be moved up or down. To admit of this result the tumblers may have springs attached to them,vor they may be so formed that one end, a, of each tumbler will serve as a spring, and cause sufficient friet-ion to prevent the tumblers from moving casually within the frames. (See Figs. l and 4.) 1

The sides ofthe frames (l serve as guides for the tumblers, said sides being beveled at their inner edges to tit in recesses or grooves made in the ends of the tumblers.

The tumblers have T-shaped slots made in them, through which a projection, b, on the bolt B of the lock passes; and in order to admit of the bolt B being moved back to unlock the lock, the parts c of the slotsin the tumblers must be brought in line with each other and the projection b, as shown in Fig. l. Said projection b' when the bolt is shoved out on the lock is ina locked state, being in the parts c of the slots, which parts c are at right angles to the part c.

The frames C, with the exception of the innermost one, are formed with two cross-bars,

d d', against which the bits e of the key D work in order to adjust the tumblers. The bits e pass through a slot in the key D, and are secured in position between theastationary projections j' f by means of a set-screw, g, as shown clearly in Fig..5. These bits when the key is turned act upon the cross bars d d of the frames C and move the frames and tumblers, the latter being held in the frames by the friction produced by the springs a, so as to bring the horizontal slots c in the tumblers in line with each other and the projection b of the bolt B, some of the bits moving a number of the frames and tumblers upward, and others moving the remainder downward.

In order to eiect the changes in this lock, the bits c maybe changed at random, it being perfectly immaterial how so long as they are changedvin position, and the lock being in an unlocked state, so that the projection b on the bolt will be in the part c of the tumbler-slots.

The key is inserted in the lock and turned, and the bits e will, as the key is turned, act against the cross-bars d cl of the frames C and move the same, so that they will correspond in position to the position of the bits e, the tumblers being prevented from moving with the frames in consequence of being held by the projection b of the bolt.

Thus it Will be seen that the changes are effected by simply changing the position of the bits in the key, none of the parts of the lock requiring to be manipulated except by the key, as the latter is turned to throw out the bolt or to lock the lock. In the lock previously patented the tnmblers required to be moved or adjusted by hand, involving the necessity of opening the lock-case, which was attended with a great deal of trouble.

By this arrangement the frames are operated by a positive movement. The use of springs is not necessary, although they may be applied to theframes to preventrattling and unnecessary play of the frames. Springs in locks are very unreliable, being frequently injured by rust and subject to breakage, and, if depended upon to give movement to certain parts, render, when broken or impaired, the lock Worthless until they are replaced.

The bits e are formed with a lip, h, at each end to prevent them from slipping out from the slot in the key when the set-screw g is loosened or unscrewed. This is a very simple means for preventing that contingency, and is attended with a very little expense in the construction of the key.

Having thus described my invention and improvement, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The combination ot' the sliding frames C, T-shaped slotted tnmblers D, having spring ends a, cross-bars (l d', and projection b of the bolt B, operating with the bits e of the key D, substantially as described, for the purpose specified.

2. The tting of the tumblers D in the frames() by means whichwill admit of changes being effected in their positions by the action ofthe key alone when the tumblers are retained or held by the projection b of the bolt B, as set forth.

3. The forming of the adjustable bits e with lips h at their ends to prevent the slipping ot' the bits ont from the key, as set forth.

A. O. MILES.

Witnesses Trro. E. S'rEEnE, GEO. A. DAvIs.l 

